Patent GB-1445435-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus for automatic operation of a press preparation of alpha-tocopherol
IPC: B29C49/06
Filed: 1973-09-27
Abstract: 1445435 Press operation; injection-blowmoulding SAINT-GOBAIN CARNAUD INTERPLASTIC 27 Sept 1973 45296/73 Heading B5A In a press having fixed and movable plates with different operating positions therebetween, material is transferred between different operating positions by (i) separating the plates, (ii) moving tools with the material thereon linearly parallel to the direction of plate separation, (iii) rotating the tools about an axis parallel to this direction, (iv) moving the tools linearly in this direction to their operating positions and (v) closing the plates, the movement (ii) coupling the tool assembly with driving mechanism for movement (iii). As shown in Fig. 2, an injectionblow-moulding apparatus comprises four stations for injection, blowing, ejection and temperature control/cleaning respectively, spaced at 90 degrees around a central rotatable shaft 9 carrying a head 8 on which are mounted toolcarrying arms (10-13, Fig. 1, not shown), head 8 being correctly located by dowel pins 7 and corresponding holes 7<SP>1</SP>. Mould halves 4 are mounted on fixed table 1 and co-operating mould halves 4a are mounted on movable plate A connected via a rigid member E to a control head D. Arms 20 of control head D are connected by pins 19 to collar 18 rigid with shaft 9 and a fixed support 5 via cross-bar 22, linkage 23a, and fixed member 24, arranged so that as plate A is opened a distance L, then head 8 is raised a distance l, preferably L/2. Also mounted on shaft 9 is a clamp 26 urged upwardly by spring 50 against shoulder 26a of shaft 9 and held thereto against rotation by pin 48. Clamp 26 has fingers 27 which, when shaft 9 is raised, engage holes in rotatable collar 28. Collar 28 is rotated by jack 37, preferably double-acting, via member 40, rod 33 and linkage 30-32. When the press is closed and shaft 9 in its lowermost position, the rod of jack 37 is in its retracted position so that arm 41 of member 40 actuates contact 42 so as to cause press opening, head 8 being freed from pins 7, the tools disengaged from the mould halves, and fingers 27 engaged with collar 28. A contact 44 is actuated by raising of head D, actuating jack 37 to cause rotation of collar 28 and therefore of shaft 9 and head 8 by 90 degrees. Contact 43 is then actuated to cause press closure and disengagement of collar 28 from shaft 9, collar 28 then being returned to its initial position, jack 37 being actuated for this movement, e.g. by contact 44<SP>1</SP> by means of head D. A further cycle is then effected. In the alternative arrangment of Fig. 9 (not shown), collar 28 is engaged with shaft 9 for co-rotation by fingers (73) pivoted to collar 28 and operated by jack (75) to engage recesses (77) in the lower collar (76). The ejection mechanism, Fig. 4, comprises a cradle 53a mounted on a crosspiece 53 having sleeves 52 sliding on guide rods 14 by means of jack 37 acting through ejector 54 sliding on the reduced end portion of rod 33 between shoulder 55 and abutment 56 and through linkage 61. The cradle 53A may be turned by handle 53C to position the removed articles vertically. Outward movement of ejector 54 is effected by shoulder 55, return movement by abutment 56 until abutment 59 strikes support 35. Abutments 56, 59 are screwthreaded for adjustment. In the alternative arrangement of Fig. 7 (not shown), movement of ejector (84) causes rotation of a pinion (83) thereon by engagement with fixed rack (81) and thereby a double movement of cradle 53a by engagement of pinion (83) with rack (89) connected thereto. Handle 53C may be rotated automatically by engagement of roller (85, Fig. 11, not shown) thereon in cam ramp (87) having a notch (88).